OTTAWA-GATINEAU, October 10, 2013 — Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) made public a report on 911 services and invited Canadians to share their views on its findings and recommendations. The CRTC is also asking Canadians to identify and prioritize the matters within its jurisdiction that should be addressed regarding 911 services in Canada.
“911 services are vital to the health and safety of Canadians,” said Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of the CRTC. “As we prepare to look at the future of 911 services, we want to hear from Canadians about what role the CRTC should play in ensuring that these services make the best use of new technologies.”
In December 2012, the CRTC appointed then-Commissioner Timothy Denton to conduct research on 911 services in light of the telecommunications system’s evolution to next-generation networks based on Internet Protocol. Mr. Denton consulted numerous experts in Canada and abroad and examined comments from the public. His report, A Report on Matters Related to Emergency 9-1-1 Services, focuses on three broad areas:
- the performance and adequacy of the technology currently employed for 911 services, such as that used to locate a caller who is using a cellphone;
- the issues related to the provision of 911 services on next-generation networks, including how systems should be designed; and
- policy considerations on 911 matters.
The report, which reflects Mr. Denton’s views, is now available for review. The CRTC is inviting Canadians to submit their comments by November 24, 2013. They may do so by:
Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-549
The CRTC is an administrative tribunal that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
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